Experience Berwick

Kings County is home to a large number of lakes and ponds, some suited for swimming and boating, others suited for fishing or paddling. Lakes provide the perfect place to plant yourself on a hot summer’s day for recreation and relaxation.

Berwick is fortunate to have a number of beautiful lakes nearby:

Aylesford Lake is home to many cottages and year-round residents. The lake also has a public beach with fully accessible parking, playground, pathways, picnic areas, boardwalk, canteen, and toilets. The public beach is typically open from early June to early September, and is supervised by lifeguards. A public boat launch is also available. Click here for directions from Berwick to Aylesford Lake.

Lake George Provincial Park, near Aylesford Lake, is also home to a number of cottages and year-round residents. Although smaller in size, Lake George also has a public beach area, parking, and a boat ramp, as well as a picnic area and change rooms. It’s a beautiful spot for a dip on a hot summer’s day, and a safe swimming area is roped off from boaters. Click here for directions from Berwick to Lake George.

Tupper Lake is a small lake in Kings County, between Berwick and Kentville. It is closed to motorized boats but has a public launch for non-motorized boats such as kayaks and canoes. The lake is also fairly shallow and is suitable for swimming. Click here for directions from Berwick to Tupper Lake.

The Cloud Lake Wilderness Area is one of 31 Protected Areas set aside by the Nova Scotia Government in the Wilderness Areas Preservation Act. This area, comprised of 10,830 hectares of land, boundaries Annapolis and Kings Counties and would be suited for the avid wilderness traveler. The landscape is composed mainly of granite bedrock, forested land forms, glacial deposits, large scattered lakes, steep-sided streams, and wetlands. It offers excellent opportunities for backcountry hiking and camping, canoeing, fishing, and hunting. Click here for directions from Berwick to Cloud Lake.

Can you think of a fun and exciting hobby that includes young people, older generations, and even retirees? It’s called Geocaching and it’s becoming so popular that we want to share it with you! The term Geocaching, pronounced “Geo-cashing,” is a fairly new and unique outdoor activity being played by people all over the world hoping to “cache” in on the fun!

Geocachers find themselves exploring different places, such as wilderness areas, hiking or walking trails, parks, fishing holes … and the list goes on. Recreation and technology have come together to take the world by storm and they’ve done it by creating a high tech way to treasure hunt. The concept is easy: you use a GPS unit (Global Positioning System) to find hidden treasure or “caches” that are cleverly camo’d (disguised) and placed, blending in with their surroundings, making the containers harder to spot thereby increasing the challenge! In order to find the cache you must download latitude and longitude coordinates from a website such as Geocaching (this website also features instructions, forums, blogs, videos, events, and much more). Geocachers are hiding and finding geocaches every day, and there are over 1 million caches hidden in the world to date!

Geocachers love the challenge of the search just as much as finding the camo’d containers. Inside you will find a log to sign, proving you found the cache. Geocachers may read the past logs if they wish and trade small cache items, like toys or pins. It’s easy: if you take something, leave something!

One very important thing to remember is to use stealth when finding and retrieving the cache from its location. If an ordinary person sees you poking around, it increases the chances of the container and its contents becoming “muggled,” a geocaching term for being stolen. This is no fun for the owner who hides and maintains the cache, especially if they have trackable items within.

To complete the adventure, the Geocacher logs onto Geocaching and records the specific caches they have or haven’t found. If they’ve had anything funny happen to them or if the just want to discuss the weather, this is where they would do it, sharing their experience for the next Geocacher to read.

This recreational activity is motivating people to get out and explore the outdoors, find new parks and trails, experiencing something new every time. The cool thing is, each area you go to will have caches set out by local Geocachers sharing with you their special or interesting feature…some of which will take you off the beaten path to places you would have never found on your own. How cool is that?

So what does all this have to do with the Town of Berwick, one might ask? In Berwick and surrounding areas, local Geocachers have been exploring and setting out new caches for us to find! There are a series of caches published along the old railway bed, one at Town Hall, and numerous scattered from one end of town to the other (and beyond). These have attracted Geocaching enthusiasts to our community. Once you’re hooked, you can jump “feet first” into this exciting activity and increase your number of geocache finds!

Explore and Discover a Scenic Hiking Destination

Hiking Berwick and its surrounding areas introduces visitors to exploring and discovering nature, no matter what season of the year.

Hikers will experience beautiful scenery while discovering our favourite “secret” spots. You will travel through hard and soft wood forests; criss-cross over little streams, and discover peaceful waterfalls where you wouldn’t expect to find them. Hike along the Bay of Fundy to see 300-400 foot cliffs, explore our natural sea caves and experience rockhounding and bird watching at its best.

Most of all, you will breathe clean fresh air, experience brilliant fall colors and glistening snow. If you’re looking you might just catch a glimpse of wildlife, while birds play majestic melodies in your ears.

These self guided hiking adventures are great for independent hikers who choose to hike alone, or with friends and family. Whatever your experience, age or season, we have a trail for you! Hikes range from an easy, short hike to a moderately strenuous affair. Grab your favourite hiking boots, camera and get ready to explore Berwick and its surrounding areas’ “Great Hiking Destinations!”

Hikers’ Note: Deer hunting is a huge sport in Nova Scotia. Upon entering the woods beginning from September to December, it’s advised to wear Hunters’ Orange and proceed with caution. Check the local tide times for coastal adventures.

Safety and Trail Etiquette

Be prepared: Wear good footwear and stay on marked dtrails. Check the weather and tide times before you go. Hike with a friend or tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back.Pack it in, pack it out: Take all litter with you when you leave.Carry Essentials: Water, food, fire starter, compass or GPS with extra batteries, first aid kit, whistle, pocket knife, rain jacket, extra socks and a flashlight.

The 14-Wing Greenwood Aviation Museum's permanent displays encompass the early formation of the base in 1942 and proceed through the Lancaster, Neptune, Argus and Aurora eras. The history of Greenwood's present day squadrons: 14 AMS, 404, 405, 413, 415, 434 and 14 SES are proudly displayed in a special area set aside for the squadron historians. Special theme exhibits are featured from time to time to provide return visitors with something different.

Snowmobiling is a very popular sport in Kings County, due to approximately 700 kilometres of professionally groomed trails spanning throughout the valley and into neighbouring counties. The Apple Capital Heritage Trail runs right through the Town of Berwick, enabling equipment unloading, drive-up fuel refills, and visits to local restaurants for hungry snowmobilers!

Originally one of Canada's oldest solo screens, the Valley Drive-In Theatre had gone dark when its lease was not renewed. The Coldbrook Lions Club came to the rescue, and succeeded in obtaining a new lease on life for the venerable theatre. Since their relighting of the Valley, the Lions roar with continuing support from appreciative and supportive audiences. The Valley is open on weekends, seasonally, from mid-May through the end of September. The screen is lit with double features.

Berwick Heights is a challenging 18 hole, par 72 course, offering three sets of bent grass tees, large, undulating green, and dwarf bluegrass fairways. The course is a combination of five open, rolling holes and thirteen scenic holes through the woods, with water in play on fourteen of the eighteen holes. There is a clubhouse, pro shop, and restaurant on site. Club and cart rentals are available, as are gold lessons.

A fun adventure for all ages, Oaklawn Farm Zoo boasts the largest display of Big Cats and Primates in Eastern Canada, and much more. Oaklawn's 50-acre oo offers a relaxing atmosphere in a country-like setting. You can stroll along and interact with a wide diversity of mammals, birds and reptiles. Oaklawn Farm Zoo features a large variety of endangered and threatened species of exotic, native and domestic breeds of animals.

Harbourville is a small fishing village located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, home of the world’s highest tides! Harbourville is home to a modern wharf, a community hall, several artists, the German Schnitzelhaus Restaurant, and many summer and year-round homes. Stop by to see fishing boats on the sea floor at low tide, and lifted to the wharves at high tide. Or come to watch incredible sunsets over the water.

Berwick United Church Camp, founded in 1872, sits in a beautiful 27 acre grove of hemlock and pine. Every year since its origin, including through WWI, WWII and the Depression, people have made their way from near and far to attend a ten day “Camp Meeting”. Although originally Methodist, and then primarily United Church, this camp welcomes people of all, or no, faith background. It is an intergenerational gathering where campers range from babies to people in their 90’s.

Activities include church services, Bible study, yoga, auctions, book club, a variety of sports, crafts, choir, youth and childrens’ programming among many other things! Free time to play, read, walk, visit, and go to the canteen are also favourite activities.

Other camps happening at Berwick include the Atlantic Christian Ashram, Maritime Baha’i Summer School, Social Work Camp, Choral Society Camps, and other band and youth gatherings. The Camp can be rented for private use as well.

The Apple Capital Museum and Visitor Information Center welcomes visitors and residents to explore our heritage, cultural and other local secrets in Berwick and surrounding areas.

The facility is located at 173 Commercial Street and open to the public throughout the summer. The Visitor Information Centre is open to help tourists with all their questions. The Apple Capital Museum collects and displays historical paraphernalia about the Annapolis Valley’s apple industry and its founders, as well as information on residents and community history of interest to Berwick and District.

No visit to Berwick is complete without experiencing its famous collection of objects from the apple and railway era at the Apple Capital Museum. Did you know that the museum also hosts a live bee display enclosed in glass by means of a tube leading outside, showing how they work together to build their community as we build ours? Ask our knowledgeable staff how the bees benefit the fruit industry, especially the apples in our area!

Need directions or advice as to what fun and exciting assets we have to offer in Berwick and the surrounding area? Stop by the Apple Capital Museum as it also doubles as a Visitor Information Center, and speak to the friendly staff that take pride and radiate excitement as they share their secret spots with you!

Grab a splash of apple cider and talk about exploring and discovering these spots, and be sure to bring your camera as you don’t want to miss these memorable experiences to share with your friends and family. There is simply so much to enjoy here!

The staff can assist with:

Maps and brochures of Berwick and surrounding areas

Brochures covering all regions of Nova Scotia

Accommodation and dining needs

Books and publications on the history of Berwick

Clean toilets

Bay of Fundy and coastal information

Local tide times

And so much more!

The above is just a taste of the discoveries waiting for you and your family in Berwick and surrounding area, so when are you coming? Keep checking the website for new events happening that may be of interest, and we will all learn and have fun together in this fantastic community!

Berwick and its surrounding areas are home to a wide range of retail shops. Our merchants provide exceptional customer service and will be sure to assist you with whatever you’re looking for.

Please view our Business Directory for all your shopping needs. We make our best effort to keep this list updated. However, if your business is missing from the list or your information needs to be refreshed, please contact the Economic Development Coordinator.

The Annual Berwick Gala Days Festival is held every Labour Day Weekend! The first “Gala Day” was held on September 2, 1945 in the town of Berwick. This event was sponsored by the Berwick Amateur Athletic Association to improve Rainforth Park. The event continues to be primarily held at Rainforth Park in Berwick and has expanded to a three day event, now called Gala Days. The festival attracts approximately 7,000 people annually.

The longstanding success of Gala Days is attributed to the many volunteers from the community at large. Volunteers plan the festival all year long, and operate each event as it takes place throughout the weekend. In 1945, the first Gala Days program included such events as horse pulling, a tug of war, a street parade, women’s softball, men’s baseball, a United Church supper and a street dance to end the day. Current events include children’s activities, horse and ox pulls, various strength competitions and races, parades, fireworks, a craft fair, a dance, a woodsman competition, eating contests, horse and car shows, and the crowning of a Gala Day Queen.

The volunteer committee’s tireless efforts, along with support from the town’s Recreation Department, have allowed Gala Days to be a coveted festival for those who live within or near Berwick. All funds raised go back to support youth activities in Berwick and its surrounding areas.

Fox Mountain Music Festivals

For the past number of years, the Fox Mountain Camping Park has hosted annual Bluegrass and Country Music Festivals to a sold out crowd. The campground can hold over 5000 people and has 1000+ RV spots, and features comedians, dance groups, and local personalities between music groups to keep you entertained!